Violence against women rises in Pakistan

More than 5,000 cases of violence against women were reported in the first half of this year

November 28, 2016

Violent crime against women in Pakistan this year increased 37.5 percent, claims the country's leading feminist advocacy group.

"Some 5,500 cases were reported in the first six months of 2016. This is a sharp increase on last year when about 8,000 women were victims of violence across the country", said Mumtaz Mughal, resident director of the Aurat (woman) Foundation.

"In Punjab, the most populous province, only 21 percent have a share in inheritance but many do not have the ownership or occupy their piece of land. Six million female children are school dropouts while girl enrolment in schools is lower at 44 percent compared to boys at 56 percent," Mughal said.

"Even women lawyers and journalists cannot pursue their careers because of unsuitable environment at their respective workplaces," she said.

Mughal was addressing the media on Nov. 24 to mark the International 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence campaign.

The theme selected for Pakistan is "Education, secured for everyone". The foundation plans more than 120 events including dialogue sessions, seminars and conference till Dec. 10, Human Rights Day.